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6 Best Headphones For Every Situation

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From budge-proof earbuds to foldable cans, we've tracked down the best pair of headphones for your lifestyle.

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Brittany Smith 1 / 6

LSTN’s Cherry Wood Fillmores are the essence of sophistication, and at $100 a pop, their value far surpasses their price. You can expect rich mids and crisp highs thanks to the cherry wood used in their construction, and the padded headband will keep your noggin comfortable during the most intense jam sessions. Despite their modest price tag, every pair sold helps restore hearing to a person in need through the Starkey Hearing Foundation. <em>($100; <a href="lstnheadphones">lstnheadphones.com</a>)</em>

These Audeze ’phones are loaded with planar magnetic technology, which nearly eliminates distortion and resonance to make every song sound like a live performance. The Zebrano wood earcups house lambskin leather or suede earpads, which are sloped and padded for optimal comfort. They don’t come cheap, but there’s a reason why Grammy Award–winning producers (like Frank Filipetti) mix with them.<em>($1,945, <a href="http://audeze.com">audeze.com</a>)</em>

There is no worse feeling than reaching for your mouse only to yank your cord out of your computer. It’s only exacerbated by the fact that you’re waking up everyone in your house when the music blares. Try Bluetooth—with no wires, you’ve got nothing to fear, and you’ll get tap out before the headphones do, thanks to the 30-hour rechargeable battery and pressure relieving cushions on the ear cups. They can’t, however, make up for your poor taste in music. <em>($400, </em><a href="http://store.sony.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?langId=-1...)</em>

How much does it suck when your headphones drop out mid-sprint? The Polk Audio Ultra Fit offers a variety of eartips with SecureFit Support, so your buds don’t budge during vigorous activity. The cable housing molds to your ear, and the non-sealed fit lets outside sound in, which ensures that a furiously honking horn isn’t the last thing you ever hear. <em>($50,<a href="http://polkaudio.com">polkaudio.com</a>)</em>

Lightweight and foldable for easy storage, these headphones are the ultimate travel accessory. The automatic shutoff feature conserves battery life (helpful if you pass out with ’em on), and the active noise cancellation drowns out the whining child seated behind you. They won’t, however, keep your seatmate from hogging the armrest. <em>($300,<a href="beatsbydre.com">beatsbydre.com</a>)</em>

The AE2w features TriPort technology for maximum resonance and active equalization to improve audio. The cushioned earcups ensure that you can wear them for hours without any discomfort. They also sport noise-cancelling technology to keep you focused on what’s going on in your ears, but you can rest easy knowing you’ll never miss a call again. These ’phones can connect to two devices simultaneously—the video you’re watching on your tablet will pause when you answer the call on your phone, and pick up right when you hang up the conversation. Welcome to the 21st century. <em>($249, <a href="http://amazon.com">amazon.com</a>)</em>